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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Brewers News and Notes Column: Yost, Eveland Discuss Weight

Posted on: Saturday, 25 February 2006, 03:01 CST

By Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Feb. 25--Phoenix -- Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost confirmed Friday that he met privately with Dana Eveland to tell the 22-year-old left-hander that he needed to get in better physical condition to make the opening-day roster.

"The first day we were here, we had a bit of a chat," Yost said. "He was a little heavy, for me. I would have liked to see him maybe 10 pounds lighter. We wanted him somewhere between 238 and 241 (pounds).

"I told him we need to stay on top of this. Dana is taking it real serious. He has worked real hard and he's about there now."

Actually, Eveland said he needed to lose more weight. Since reporting to the pitching mini-camp a couple of weeks ago, he said he had lost 8 pounds.

"I'd like to lose another 5 or 6 pounds," he said. "I've just been watching my diet and adding a little extra conditioning every afternoon, either in the weight room or the bicycle. It's not going to hurt me to lose a few more pounds."

As for the meeting with Yost, Eveland said: "It didn't surprise me, really. I thought I was in decent shape coming into camp but I knew they were going to expect more from me."

Eveland, 22, was listed at 258 pounds at the end of the 2005 season. He pitched well after being summoned from Class AA Huntsville at midseason and placed in the Brewers' bullpen but eventually ran out of gas (8.76 earned run average in September) and finished with a 1-1 record and 5.97 ERA in 27 appearances.

The Brewers thought Eveland would have held up better if in better condition and expected him to report to camp lighter than he did.

"It's not easy; it's hard," Yost said. "You've got to get into good eating habits and good conditioning habits early. If you don't, it can get away from you. This is real important for his career."

Eveland is in a three-man competition with right-handers Rick Helling and Dave Bush for the final spot in the rotation. If he doesn't come out on top in that battle, he still could claim a spot in the bullpen.

"If Ned is going to put the effort into telling me he sees me having a chance of making the squad, I'm going to do whatever it takes to make Ned happy," Eveland said. "I want to be part of this team. That's what it's all about."

All hands on deck: Owner Mark Attanasio will arrive in camp today to address the players before the first full-squad workout. General manager Doug Melvin and Yost also will have their say in the meeting, to be held in the team clubhouse.

That session was conducted on a practice field last spring and Yost delivered an emotional, fiery speech intended to get his players pumped up for the season. That speech was played on the Miller Park video board before the team took the field during the regular season, and Yost admitted that everyone got tired of it.

Asked what might be substituted to set the tone at the start of games this season, Yost said: "We'll figure something out. How about guys making diving catches and hitting home runs?"

Before that session, players will meet to discuss baseball's new drug policy, which bans not only steroids but also amphetamines.

"They can ask all their questions with the doctors in there," Yost said. "We don't want any confusion. Shut the door and let the players talk among themselves, just them and the docs."

Hot off the presses: The team's new media guide arrived at camp, to favorable reviews. The cover features the young infield of third baseman Bill Hall, shortstop J.J. Hardy, second baseman Rickie Weeks and rookie first baseman Prince Fielder.

The cover was designed before the Brewers acquired Corey Koskie, who is expected to bounce Hall from the regular lineup.

"It makes all of us happy," Hall said. "It's the future of the ballclub, obviously. There are big expectations for all of us.

"It's not going to change the way we play. We're going to go out and try to do the same thing and help the ball club get better."

Extension talk: Yost said he had been talking with Melvin about a contract extension but said no deal was imminent.

"We're talking about it," he said. "There's no ticking clock."

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Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Source: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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